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Chapter 109
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Long Walk to Freedom, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism and Division
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress
Nonviolent Protest vs. Violent Protest
The Value of Optimism
Summary
Analysis
In May of 1992, CODESA 2 begins, and Mandela and de Klerk are still at odds on several issues. As negotiations stall, the ANC adopts a policy of “rolling mass action” that incorporates strikes, demonstrations, and boycotts. Tensions rise when the Inkatha lead a strike that kills 46 people and de Klerk and the police do nothing. Members of the ANC push Mandela to recommend violent protest, all while de Klerk threatens that the government may also be ready to use violence. During a protest march on a stadium in Bisho, government soldiers open fire, killing 29 and injuring over 200.
Mandela highlights the violence of his political opponents as a way of showing how they are less reasonable than he is. While Mandela could use the situation as a pretext for the ANC itself to justifiably turn toward more violent tactics, he holds off for the moment, putting his faith in the idea that the upcoming elections will provide a peaceful resolution to these conflicts.
Themes
Mandela sees the tragedy in Bisho as “the darkest hour before there is dawn,” since soon after, he and de Klerk seemingly have a breakthrough in negotiations. They create a framework for negotiating called the Record of Understanding. This agreement angers Chief Buthelezi and causes Inkatha to drop out of negotiations, abandoning both the ANC and the Nationalists. Aside from this setback, the Record of Understanding leads to an agreement for a 5-year national unity government where parties polling over 5 percent get proportional representation in the cabinet. After 5 years, the nation will become a simple majority-rule government.
Despite being let down during previous negotiations, Mandela holds on to the optimistic belief that it’s still possible to reach an agreement with rivals like de Klerk. Chief Buthelezi’s protest of the plan shows that it’s not possible to please everyone. Nevertheless, after decades of struggle, Mandela’s tactics prove themselves effective as he and de Klerk lay out the blueprint for an election that will fundamentally change the government of South Africa.
Themes
